Bradley Beal's Rocky Return to Phoenix

Bradley Beal's much-anticipated return to Phoenix as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers was anything but triumphant. Greeted by boos throughout the night and struggling to find his rhythm, Beal endured one of the toughest shooting performances of his career in the Suns' 115-102 victory on November 7th, 2025.

A Night of Boos and Struggles

The atmosphere was electric from the start, with Suns fans letting Beal know exactly how they felt during introductions and every time he touched the ball. The reception culminated in cheers only on his heavily contested final shot attempt, which fell harmlessly as Grayson Allen defended it out of a timeout. Beal finished the night with a season-low five points on a dismal 2-of-14 shooting (1-of-5 from three-point range), contributing just one rebound and one assist in 19 minutes of action. His performance was one of the worst of his 586-game career with at least 14 field goal attempts, according to Stathead.

"When you allow me to be that guy, I’ll be that," Beal told The Athletic. "But when you have two coaches that want you to set screens and play in the dunker, you’re not Brad Beal. You’re somebody else."

[IMAGE_1: Bradley Beal looking dejected after missing a shot during his return game in Phoenix]

Reflecting on a Controversial Suns Tenure

Beal's difficult night came just over four months after he and the Suns mutually parted ways. Acquired in a blockbuster 2023 draft-day deal that sent Chris Paul, four first-round pick swaps, and six second-round picks to Washington, Beal's time in the desert was ultimately unsuccessful. The Suns fired two coaches (Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer) during his two seasons, and the team failed to secure a single playoff win. In a stunning move, Beal gave back $13.9 million of his contract to facilitate a buyout, signing a two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers featuring a 2026 player option.

Beal openly expressed his frustration with how he was utilized in Phoenix, suggesting the coaching staff stifled his natural scoring ability. He contrasted this with his current environment in Los Angeles, where he feels encouraged to be himself.

"Everybody’s on my ass like, ‘Go, keep shooting, go, go, go,’" Beal shared. "‘Just go be you, be you, be you.’ So that’s always encouraging."

The Clippers Present and Suns' New Look

Beal's struggles were exacerbated by the Clippers playing without key stars James Harden (personal leave) and Kawhi Leonard (sprained right ankle). The team, now at the bottom of the Pacific Division at 3-5, is still managing Beal's minutes following a right knee scope. He hasn't yet cleared back-to-back games or played in the fourth quarter.

In stark contrast, Phoenix's new acquisition, Jalen Green (acquired in the Kevin Durant trade), made an immediate impact in his Suns debut. Green scored a game-high 29 points in just 22 minutes of action, matching the number of times Beal scored 29+ points in all of last season with the Suns. This highlights the diverging trajectories of the two players since the trade.

[IMAGE_2: Jalen Green celebrating after scoring against the Clippers for the Phoenix Suns]

What's Next?

While Beal downplayed the "revenge game" narrative, emphasizing that his return to Washington (his former franchise) felt more personal, the on-court reality is clear. The Suns appear to have moved on successfully, while the Clippers are still searching for consistency and figuring out how to integrate their new star. Both teams meet again on November 9th at Intuit Dome, setting the stage for another chapter in this evolving rivalry. Beal needs time to find his rhythm in LA, but the Suns are already thriving with their new-look backcourt.